strumming Funk-style on a guitar??

griffith9 · 10-27-2005, 10:03 PM

I only learned one way of doing it,
by playing the notes short(by lifting the fingers as I'm strumming) and picking really hard.

I usually fingerstyle and I really don't know how to get the funky strumming sound in the guitar.

I figure it's the styles rather than the instruments.

I've seen guys(on a clip) slap and strum the hell out of old acoustic guitars and it sounded funkier than fender,les paul.

I've listened to Norman Brown(??) and Lee riteneur(?) but they just sound
very smoooooooooooooooth, mellow, not the crazy funky style I wanted to hear.
I'm new to this whole thing.
If I want to learn Funk-style strumming on a guitar, what guitarist, album should I check out?

could you funk experts please give me any advice?

right now I'm just hurting my fingers trying to play funk... or funk-like style.. whatever..

Flamencology · 10-27-2005, 10:07 PM

The Brothers Johnson!!!

~~something vague~~ · 10-29-2005, 08:12 PM

Just listen to a lot of 70s funk like Parliament-Funkadelic or Earth Wind and Fire, etc. Though those are pretty vague reccomendations.

Funk always reminds me of pr0n. =\

Fatback · 11-01-2005, 09:49 PM

Isley Brothers

basgitarist · 11-02-2005, 05:43 AM

"Enjoy Incubus" It's not funk, I know but the album abuses the technique to it's fullest potential. also check out "We came to play" . It's tower of power's album released in 1993. Their title track is one of the songs that has nice guitar playing.

Finally you should check out
http://www.cyberfret.com/styles/funk/101/index.php
http://www.cyberfret.com/styles/funk/funk-soul-workshop/index.php
http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aa091701a.htm

cyberfret's a nice website with tab notation and audio examples to help you on your way. Good luck

edit: Suddenly Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy comes to mind. I remember stealling my guitarists guitar so I could learn to play that riff. They also have an amazing bass player btw.

basgitarist · 11-02-2005, 05:46 AM

"Listen to recordings by James Brown (Jimmy Nolen on guitar-- he practically invented funk strumming), Booker T & the MGs (w/Steve Cropper, whose touch and timing are a joy to hear), and if you dig around, you can find recordings that include relative newcomer Avi Bortnick. When I saw him with John Scofield (check the CD "Up All Night") his rhythm playing was so exquisitely funky that he repeatedly stole my attention away from Sco's amazing guitar solos, and that ain't easy to do. These are 3 players who really help to set the standard for world-class rhythm guitar playing. If you want to sound that good, you have to adopt a playing stance that allows to you fully develop those all-important wrist muscles."
Source: http://www.stevehurl.com/guitar_tips.html

I also found this aswell.

Lydisk · 11-02-2005, 10:02 AM

the guitarist of Tower of Power

10-27-2005, 10:03 PM	#1
griffith9 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 59	strumming Funk-style on a guitar?? I only learned one way of doing it, by playing the notes short(by lifting the fingers as I'm strumming) and picking really hard. I usually fingerstyle and I really don't know how to get the funky strumming sound in the guitar. I figure it's the styles rather than the instruments. I've seen guys(on a clip) slap and strum the hell out of old acoustic guitars and it sounded funkier than fender,les paul. I've listened to Norman Brown(??) and Lee riteneur(?) but they just sound very smoooooooooooooooth, mellow, not the crazy funky style I wanted to hear. I'm new to this whole thing. If I want to learn Funk-style strumming on a guitar, what guitarist, album should I check out? could you funk experts please give me any advice? right now I'm just hurting my fingers trying to play funk... or funk-like style.. whatever..

11-02-2005, 05:43 AM	#5
basgitarist Lay Down The Low Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 905	"Enjoy Incubus" It's not funk, I know but the album abuses the technique to it's fullest potential. also check out "We came to play" . It's tower of power's album released in 1993. Their title track is one of the songs that has nice guitar playing. Finally you should check out http://www.cyberfret.com/styles/funk/101/index.php http://www.cyberfret.com/styles/funk/funk-soul-workshop/index.php http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aa091701a.htm cyberfret's a nice website with tab notation and audio examples to help you on your way. Good luck edit: Suddenly Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy comes to mind. I remember stealling my guitarists guitar so I could learn to play that riff. They also have an amazing bass player btw. Last edited by basgitarist; 11-02-2005 at 05:59 AM.

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10-27-2005, 10:07 PM	#2
Flamencology man with the sexy voice Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Eastern Canada Posts: 119	The Brothers Johnson!!!

10-29-2005, 08:12 PM	#3
~~something vague~~ Banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 599	Just listen to a lot of 70s funk like Parliament-Funkadelic or Earth Wind and Fire, etc. Though those are pretty vague reccomendations. Funk always reminds me of pr0n. =\

11-01-2005, 09:49 PM	#4
Fatback old funk meister Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: is everything in real estate Posts: 115	Isley Brothers

11-02-2005, 05:46 AM	#6
basgitarist Lay Down The Low Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 905	"Listen to recordings by James Brown (Jimmy Nolen on guitar-- he practically invented funk strumming), Booker T & the MGs (w/Steve Cropper, whose touch and timing are a joy to hear), and if you dig around, you can find recordings that include relative newcomer Avi Bortnick. When I saw him with John Scofield (check the CD "Up All Night") his rhythm playing was so exquisitely funky that he repeatedly stole my attention away from Sco's amazing guitar solos, and that ain't easy to do. These are 3 players who really help to set the standard for world-class rhythm guitar playing. If you want to sound that good, you have to adopt a playing stance that allows to you fully develop those all-important wrist muscles." Source: http://www.stevehurl.com/guitar_tips.html I also found this aswell.

11-02-2005, 10:02 AM	#7
Lydisk Roskilde '07 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Naked City Posts: 9,429	the guitarist of Tower of Power